Book Proposals: Query Letters, Cover Letters, Synopses, Market Research

Composition of Query Letters,
Synopses, and Book Proposals

Bruce Bortz
Deanna Brady
DJ Bruno
Anne Creal
Bonnie Hill
Carol Hegberg
Stavra Ketchmark
Floyd Largent
Tom Grant Lemons
Ron Marmarelli
Dorrie O'Brien
Mark Orrin
Arlene Robinson

First Contact ...
In today's tough book business, you can't just write a manuscript, mail it off, and expect a bidding war to start. Chances are that the manuscript will be returned to you without being read. A query letter provides first contact between the author and literary agents or acquisition editors.

Query letters are an entire "subspecialty" in the process of trying to sell a fiction or nonfiction manuscript. This sales aid is an aspiring author's most important tool as it means the difference between agents and editors taking time to look at your work or ignoring it.

Whether you work on magazine articles, nonfiction, or novels, you must be able to write query letters to literary agents / acquisition editors that generate excitement and result in an invitation to submit your work.

"Work as hard on your query letter as you do on your manuscript. The query is your one shot to be noticed. Make it perfect. Make it businesslike and avoid cuteness. . . . Personalize the letter by including a line regarding books the agent has handled. Include only information that is relevant to your book. Be able to categorize your book without equivocation." E. L. Wyrick -- Power in the Blood

Today's fiction market is tighter than it has ever been. Consolidation within the publishing and book distribution industries has meant that far fewer major houses take submissions. Where dozens of different houses once looked for books to publish, now only three or four remain, all with subsidiaries under them that originally were individual houses. A strikeout at one of the subsidiaries may limit your opportunities to submit that work to others under the same corporate publishing umbrella.

A query letter tells the editor many things, including whether the manuscript is suitable for the publisher's lines, whether the writer has researched both what the house publishes and what line/genre that particular editor handles, whether the writer has any previous writing experience, whether the writer has a grasp of language and grammar, and whether the manuscript fits that house's present needs.

To make the most of your first contact with any agent or editor, you want a strong sales letter to set you and your work apart from stacks of mail reaching editors every day. Your query letter sells the editor on your story idea and your ability to write it, making this initial contact extremely important.

Your well-written book proposal may sell your fiction or nonfiction book. Even after an editor wants to buy your book, your synopsis helps sell it to the buying committee and may be used by artists and copy writers to create the cover.

Because your book proposal is often the first sample of your work that an agent or editor sees, and must represent and sell the part of your book not included, it should be a showcase for your writing abilities. Our published writers will read your manuscript, or work from a synopsis/summary that you provide, to help you write or revise a synopsis to represent your work at its best.

Our experienced, published writers (many of whom were, at one time, acquisition editors) can help you present the best overview of your book idea and confirm your ability to write it. We can help you decide what features of your written work and experience are most likely to convince an editor that this is a manuscript worth reading. With proper format and accuracy of style, your query letter can impress an agent or editor with your professional approach to writing.

You want your first contact to do the best possible job of convincing an agent or editor to read your manuscript, and we can help.

Feedback about our network

"I was pleased at the speed of contact of the network, and at how well they matched my needs. They got my work into the hands of a consultant that handled my work not only professionally, but also gave my valuable insights and feedback." John DeJordy, Quality Assurance, RCN

"[H]e actually read what I was saying. In doing so, he was able to edit (by rephrasing, adding/deleting) my paper to make it more concise and professional. He returned my work quickly, and provided as much feedback and interaction as I needed...I would also add that I could have found a cheaper price elsewhere, but experience with on-line editing has taught me that getting the cheapest editing isn't worth the money." G. Mahoney (contact info on request)

"Thank you for the wonderful response to my query about editing my manuscript ... The three editors I requested all got back to me within one day with kind and thorough bids. I appreciate that you made it so easy for me to contact these highly qualified professionals." Elaine Rhodes

"Lynda, I have had several responses, and they have all made great suggestions. Now the only trouble is choosing one... At any rate, I really appreciate your help. Because of you this very scary step was made with ease." Martha June Kirby

"Thank you so much for promptly forwarding my email to the various editors. I got some great responses ... I'm looking forward to breathing some new life into my project. Your web site has been of huge service to me, and I'm grateful to you for that." Marcia Augustine

"I have received three responses within twelve hours, and am writing to say how pleased I am to have found such an organized association to search for an editor." Anita B.

"I cannot commend the network highly enough for the level of professionalism and customer service of its associates. Best wishes, Martin Walker"

"WOW! Talk about prompt, efficient and thorough service... It was a difficult choice... so much talent on offer. I am very impressed. Thank you." Lee K. Curtis, Northern Correspondent, Wildlife Australia Magazine

"Thank for guiding me towards a great person, someone I feel very at home with. Your level of service is 2nd to none." D.J. Churcher, UK

"You've already done the background work. We just have to pick one and go with it. So easy." Achuth Menon

"The site made it easy for me to have access to many experienced editors and then choose the one that best fit my work. It made me feel much more secure in my choice." Joshua LeBlanc

"I think this is a well organized editing group. Everyone I have been in contact with has been very knowledgeable and professional." Deneene

"Thank you for your email and professionalism, which is quite refreshing in these days of impersonal e-business. Thus far, your service and contractors are remarkable! And I will be very, very pleased to recommend you to others here in Saudi Arabia where outsourcing of English material is very much in demand." RD Muslim

"If Linda is an example of the quality of people in your organization, then the services you offer are TOP NOTCH!!" Debra Cree, utilities co. rep.

"Just a quick note to let you know of my very positive experience with two editors. Both responded extremely promptly to my original letter and to subsequent emails. Their work was of exceptional quality and I had a good, strong ethical sense from both, as well. They were consummate professionals. I had a difficult time deciding between the two. They both represented your service well! Thanks." Bart Borsky

"I was extremely pleased with expedience of the network. Everyone was friendly, helpful, accommodating, and supportive. There was not one bit of the network I was displeased with or uneasy about from the first day I found the site." Joshua Miller

"I had a wonderful experience thanks to your service! Please keep up the good work." Marianne Bellotti

"I am currently working with Tim on my children's book, and he is proven to be an absolutely OUTSTANDING editor!! I am thrilled you have brought such top-notch editing talent together into a one-stop-shop for writers!" (Contact info on request)

"I am most impressed with the network—and my consultant. The process is handled in a most professional manner, and the editing and suggestions were right on target." Eve Carr, freelance writer

Submission

Cut and paste the questions and answers into an e-mail:

EditMyBook@Gmail.com

Alternates:
2010 at book-editing.com
help2010 at airmail.net

Required:
Submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript (Word/DOC or RTF attachment preferred). Large files should be zipped. Attachment not required if writing has not started (e.g., because you're looking for a ghostwriter).

Along with a sample, the following information is required. Ignore questions that do not apply to your project (e.g., footnotes).

(01) Word count of complete project (under "Tools" in MS Word):

(02) Put your 100-word (approx) synopsis/description here (or attach):

(03) Describe your genre and topic (e.g., nonfiction/self-help, science fiction, horror, romance, mystery, Western, young adult, children, poetry, Christian, creative nonfiction, literary):

(04) Deadline date, if any, for return of complete project. (Please be realistic. Remember that professional editors usually have a project in process.):

(05) If you have no immediate deadline, when do you want to start the editing process?: (For instance: within 30 days, within 60 days, within 90 days, 4-12 months)

(06) Level of editing desired/expected --

Copyediting / Proofreading / Line Editing (e.g., English corrections, typos, paragraph and sentence structure, word use)

Developmental (e.g., help with the big picture, such as flow/pacing, telling the story, characterization, structure, style)

Rewriting / Ghostwriting

Critique / Evaluation

(07) Number of charts/tables/pictures (if any):

(08) Writing style/format manual (e.g., Chicago Manual, APA, MLA), if applicable:

(09) Number of footnotes/references:

(10) Do you have a contract with an agent or publisher?:

(11) Do you plan to self-publish?:

(12) What is your budget for the entire project?
$ ________________
(Note: The editors will quote their regular rates, but having an idea of your budget allows the editors to tell you what services they can provide to stay within that budget.)

(13) Your name:

(14) E-mail addresses:

(15) Day/evening phone numbers (required -- in case the response to your e-mail bounces or the editors need clarification regarding the scope of service needed, deadline, etc.):

(16) City, State, Country (or time zone):

(17) The name(s) of the editor(s)/writer(s) you'd like to contact.
(If no names are selected, your e-mail will be sent to several consultants chosen by the coordinator):

(18) Do you want the coordinator to reroute your submission if you requested editors/writers who (a) are not available by your deadline date, (b) do not handle the type of material you submitted, and/or (c) do not perform the service(s) you want?

(19) How did you learn about our service?:

(20) Attach the first 50 pages of your manuscript (include prologue/preface, proposal, query)

Notes:

No hidden charges
We won't quote you one price and charge you another. When possible, we'll provide you with a per-word or per-page rate so you'll know up front exactly how much your project will cost. (Of course, we ask that you fairly represent the scope of your project.)

To learn more about the rates charged by professional editors, please see: Editorial Freelancers Association

It is a mistaken notion that freelance editors work "on spec" (speculation) with no payment to the editor. It is basically asking the editor to work for free. There's no guarantee that a book will see a profit (or even be published). The editors posted here do not work on spec.

LIVE AGENT

Note: Price quotes and time estimates for individual editors cannot be given over the phone or via chat. This is a network of freelance editors with varying prices and work schedules (see our FAQ). To obtain a price quote please follow the procedures listed on our quotes page. Contact live support if you do not receive a response within three hours. It is possible that your submission was not received. You may also page the network coordinator by leaving voicemail or sending a fax to 469-789-3030.

Please be as complete as possible in representing your project's scope and size so you will receive the most accurate estimate.

Disclaimer: Your agreement, whether oral or written, is with your freelance editor / proofreader / writer, not with the freelance network as a whole or its coordinator.